Storm Brewing For Capalaba Cup Decider

EXCITING stud dog Zambora Brockie continued his emergence as a top class sire when three of his progeny landed heats of the Capalaba Cup (366m) on Sunday.

Littermates Made For America (19.67) and Stinger Noir (19.97) each recorded impressive heat victories as did the exciting Quick Storm (19.81), capping off a big day for the former racetrack star.

Time honours for the cup heats went to Casey Dargusch's Never Walk Alone in 19.64 but even that was slower than the remarkable 19.61 posted by Darren Russell's first starter Tough As Teak (Cosmic Rumble-Larsie Lou) in race two, a heat of the Bob Vernon Memorial.

The box draw for the Capalaba Cup final, worth $17,500 to-the-winner, is:

1 Made In America, 2 Quick Storm, 3 Cult Hero, 4 Hara's Clyde, 5 Hammer Down, 6 Never Walk Alone, 7 Stinger Noir, 8 Edelman.

Former Sydney Roosters, Canterbury Bulldogs and Parramatta Eels first grade rugby league star Michael Appleby owns Quick Storm which was sent north to be trained by Greg Brennan with straight racing his early aim.

“Michael played first grade in the early 1990s for the Bulldogs, Easts and the Eels,” said Brennan.

“He contacted me out of the blue to take on this dog and I'm glad he did. I have no doubt Michael will be glued to the TV next Sunday for the final.

“The dog only arrived here in October. He's been a very handy dog for us and has won up Capalaba in 19.63.”

Brennan said the dog had been restricted to the straight because of a shoulder problem, but he would try him on the circle once the Cup final was run next week.

“He's desperate for the red box so the two will help him,” said Greg.

“But the one dog, Made In America, is certain to crash to the centre after the start and that is a worry for us.”

Brennan believes fastest heat winner Never Walk Alone would be the hardest to beat in the rich final.

“Boxed where it wants to be,” he said of Never Walk Alone, the son of Barcia Bale-Rickshaw Rosie who has won 18 of 34 starts.

Made In America took his record to nine wins from 15 starts with his heat victory. He had not raced since late in March.

Box Draw – Bob Vernon Memorial Maiden final (366m)

1 Wildash Trapper, 2 Kiss And Spin, 3 Cuffey, 4 Kamarooka, 5 Columbian King, 6 Tough As Teak, 7 Opal Prince, 8 Touche Away